Artificial Heart

Pacemaker
 Pacemaker?

• A pacemaker is an electronic biomedical device that can regulate the

human heartbeat when its natural regulating mechanisms break
down.

• The pacemaker continuously monitors it heart, it uses electrical pulses

to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate.

• It is a small box surgically implanted in the chest cavity and has

electrodes that are in direct contact with the heart.

• Pacemakers are used to treat arrhythmias which are the problems with
the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat.
 Pacemaker?
• During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow,
or with an irregular rhythm.

• A heartbeat that's too fast is called tachycardia

• A heartbeat that's too slow is called bradycardia

• During an arrhythmia, the heart may not be able to pump

enough blood to the body which can cause symptoms such
as fatigue (tiredness), shortness of breath, or fainting.

• A pacemaker also can help a person who has abnormal

heart rhythms resume a more active lifestyle.
 Pacemaker?
• Pacemakers can be temporary or permanent.

• Temporary pacemakers are used to treat short-term heart

problems, such as a slow heartbeat that's caused by a
heart attack, heart surgery, or an overdose of medicine.

• Permanent pacemakers are used to control long-term heart

rhythm problems.
• Pacemakers can be single lead or dual chamber.
 Working
• A pacemaker consists of a battery, a computerized generator, and
wires with electrodes at their tips.
• The battery powers the generator, and both are surrounded by a
thin metal box. The wires connect the generator to the heart.

• The electrodes detect your heart's electrical activity and send

data through the wires to the computer in the generator.

• If your heart rhythm is abnormal, the computer will direct the

generator to send electrical pulses to your heart.

• Newer pacemakers can monitor your blood temperature,

breathing, and other factors.
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 Design
•All pacemakers are essentially composed of a battery, lead wires, and
circuitry.

•The primary function of a pacemaker battery is to store enough energy

to stimulate the heart with a jolt of electricity.

•Batteries are implanted into the body so they should meet certain
specifications

•They must be able to generate about five volts of power

•They must retain their power over many years.
•Minimum time frame is four years.
•They must have a predictable life cycle, allowing the doctor to know when a
replacement is required.
 Design
• Pacemaker leads are thin, insulated wires that are designed to
carry electricity between the battery and the heart.

• Many of the leads have a screw-in tip, which helps anchor

them to the inner wall of the heart.
• The circuitry is composed primarily of resistors, capacitors,
diodes, and semiconductors.
• Converts electrical energy to electrical signals.
• Control timing of delivery of signals.

• Modern pacemaker circuitry is a vast improvement over

earlier models.
 Materials
• The biological environment is very hostile.

• The bodily fluid consists of warm solution and other salts

and organic compounds in relatively minor concentrations

• So, like any other implant a pacemaker needs to be

biocompatible.

• The materials used to construct pacemakers must be

pharmacologically inert, non-toxic and able to function in
the environmental conditions of the body
 Materials And Properties
• Pacemakers have three components – a pulse generator,
leads and electrodes
• Pulse generator consists of –casing, battery, circuit,
connector block

• Casing which is the house of battery and circuit is made of

titanium or a titanium alloy which has
· High modulus elasticity
· High resistance to corrosion
· High durability
· Strong
· Not degraded
 Materials And Properties
• Battery which is the power source is made of Lithium which
has the properties like
• · Corrosion resistance
· Strong

• The circuit of pacemaker:.

• Contains differential amplifier, filter, level shifter and
synchronizing circuit.
• Materials used:
• Lithium-carbon
• Lithium-Iodine 
• Mercury
 Materials And Properties
• Connector block is located at the top of pacemaker
• It serves to attach the pacemaker to the lead and is made of
polyurethane which has
• Flexibility
• Abrasion & Impact Resistance
• High Load Bearing Capacity

• Pacing leads consists of –lead body, connector pin and

fixation mechanism
• One end of the pacing leads is attached to connector block
and the other end is inserted into the heart.
 Materials And Properties
• The lead body is made of a metal alloy, but it is insulated by
a polymer such as polyurethane
· High strength.
· Low coefficient of friction
· Able to withstand the flexing induced by the cardiac
contraction

• Pacemaker leads require a conductive, biocompatible

coating.
• Platinum and sputtered tin

• Portion of lead is inserted into the connector block which is

called connector pin and is made of Poly tetramethylene
ether glycol
 Materials And Properties
• Fixation mechanism holds tip of the lead in heart and is
made of Nickel-cobalt alloy

• The electrode is located at the tip of the lead and it senses

the heart signals.
• Titanium

· High modulus elasticity

· Corrosion resistance
· High durability
 Precautions
• Electric blankets, heating pads, and microwave ovens can be
used and will not interfere with the function of your pacemaker.

• Cell phones should be used on the side opposite of where the

pacemaker was implanted and should not be placed directly
against the chest

• Avoid strong electric or magnetic fields, such as some industrial

equipment, high intensity radio waves and arc resistance
welders.

• Do not undergo any tests that require

magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).
 The Future
• With the increasing numbers of senior citizens , it is
anticipated that a greater percentage of the population
will require pacemakers.

• As research efforts continue, future devices promise to be

longer lasting, more reliable, and more versatile.
THANK YOU